Chainsaw Safety

Slide 1 Chainsaws Components, maintenance, transport, starting, and use Prepared by Phil Renaud IntegriTREE Solutions Slide 2 Things to add in 2025 90-15-5 90% of accidents happen within the first 15 seconds after the tree starts falling and within 5 feet of the stump Slide 3 Chainsaw PPE Helmet Hearing protection Glasses Chainsaw protection trousers Blood stopper Boots Whistle or some form of communication system Axe Wedges Pull rope Screen/visor Slide 4 Carrying a saw Hold front handle firmly Keep inertia hand brake engaged Keep engine mount facing outward; this is more ergonomic One may also hold it sideways Slide 5 Mandatory Components Chain catcher: catches the chain when chains break or fall off the guide bar. Must be present and in good condition Hand/Wrist Guard: protects hand & wrist from chain when it breaks or falls off the guide bar. Must be present & in good condition Throttle Interlock: locking mechanism on the rear handle preventing the accidental activation of the throttle button. Slide 6 Mandatory Components Chain Brake: activates springs that exert pressure on the sprocket preventing its rotation or stopping the chain rotation immediately. two ways to engage deliberate action of Rolling wrist forward to apply pressure Through a reactionary force called kickback (2 types) Rotation & compression Only one way to disengage Reach finger tips out to grip and pull back. Thumb must stay wrapped on the front handle Must be present and unaltered Ensure the brake is functioning properly before every use. (Drop test) Slide 7 SAW Components 1)Guide bar 2)Chain 3)Inertia hand brake 4)front handle 5)Oil reservoir 6)exhaust 7)throttle 8)Throttle Interlock 9)Hand wrist guard 10)Back Handle 11)Gas reservoir 12)Pull cord 13)Air filter cover 3 4 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Slide 8 Saw Components Sprocket cover Chain catcher Spark arrester Sprocket cover nuts Felling dogs Tension screw Slide 9 Saw Components sprocket Chain catcher tensioner oiler Spark arrester Exhaust Slide 10 Saw Components Air Filter Spark Plug Decompression Valve Inertia hand brake Pull cord Master start switch Slide 11 Chainsaw tooth profile Slide 12 Chainsaw reactionary forces Chainsaws: most dangerous tools in untrained hands The forces produced by chainsaws can be extremely dangerous from an unaware user While cutting with the underside of the guide bar a pulling force is generated. The saw will seek to pull out of your hands While cutting with the top side of the guide bar a pushing force is generated. The saw will seek to push back in towards you. Slide 13 Reactionary forces (Kickback) Rotational kickback happens when the upper tip of the guide bar contacts the wood first. This cancels the relation that exist between the depth gauge and the top plate of the cutter. This enables the tooth to cut too much wood leading to kickback (kickback) is a real and ever present risk. One must remain vigilant at all times while using the saw. There are two types of kickback. Slide 14 Reactionary Forces (kickback) Compression Kickback. While cutting on the compression wood fibres of a log. Weight of the log will compress (pinch) the bar in the kerf and the chain and will abruptly stop its rotation. Saw will be pushed backwards into the abdomen of the user. One must properly identify compression and tension wood before cutting into wood. Slide 15 Reaction Forces (compression & tension) Just like rope wood has compression and tension fibers. Depending how a log lies will determine where these wood fibers are. While cutting with a saw one must cut compression before the tension C.U.T. Slide 16 Pre Start Procedures Before start Make sure all safety components are present and in proper working order Chain brake Chain catcher Hand /wrist guard Throttle interlock Pac-n-go PPE, Air Filter, Chain Tension/Brake, NO DROP START, Gas, Oil Slide 17 Starting Starting Hold firmly between your knees or on the ground with a foot in the rear handle Full choke/ cold start position If present hit decompression valve Pull on starter cord until it burps Once burped move to half choke / warm start position Pull on starter cord till it starts If it still won’t start you may have flooded it. Put the saw aside and wait Once started hit the throttle lightly once to take out of choke and into idle position Leave saw a few moments to warm up before revving it hard. Slide 18 How to operate a chainsaw While in operation chainsaws are dangerous tools. A safe and adequate use is of utmost importance to diminish the risks of injuries and accidents. Must always be used with two hands at all times. Right hand back left hand front. Chainsaws are right handed. One must be in an ergonomic and safe work position while cutting. Feet well anchored on solid ground. Do not stand on loose rock or logs. If the log is on the ground it is often preferable to put your knee down to cut. Avoid hunching over to cut when at all possible. This can lead to many lower back injuries Always wear the required PPE while cutting. Slide 19 How To Operate a Chainsaw Never operate above shoulder height. Basketball Travel rules (chainbrake) Shut it off when walking a distance. Thumbs are firmly wrapped around the handles Let the saw do the cutting. Do not force a saw out of a pinch. Do not line up your body or face with the chain while in operation. Slide 20 How to operate a chainsaw It is all about... Safety & CONTROL Slide 21 Directional face cuts Three types 45 degree Open face (70-90) Humbolt. Which of these is the safest method?